“There were a dozen sharpshooters in position. I had a gun, Ambuckle didn’t. We wanted him to order Liz’s murder, and we wanted him to tell her as much as possible. When this goes to court, we want it tidy. We want him put away for a long time. You’re a lawyer, Sharpe. You know how these things can go. We can make a clean collar, have a stack of evidence and lose. I’ve watched too many of these bastards walk.” He blew out smoke between set teeth. “This one’s not walking anywhere but into federal prison.”

“There is still the question of whether these men will be tried in your country or mine.” Moralas spoke softly, and didn’t move when Scott whirled on him.

“Look, Moralas—”

“This will be discussed later. You have my thanks and my apologies,” he said to Jonas and Liz. “I regret we saw no other way.”

“So do I,” Liz murmured, then turned to Scott. “Was it worth it?”

“Ambuckle brought thousands of pounds of cocaine into the States. He’s responsible for more than fifteen murders in the U.S. and Mexico. Yeah, it was worth it.”

She nodded. “I hope you understand that I never want to see you again.” After closing her hand around Jonas’s she managed a smile. “You were a lousy student.”

“Sorry we never had that drink.” He looked back at Jonas. “Sorry about a lot of things.”

“I appreciate what you told me about my brother. It makes a difference.”

“I’m recommending him for a citation. They’ll send it to your parents.”

“It’ll mean a great deal to them.” He offered his hand and meant it. “You were doing your job—I understand that. We all do what we have to do.”

“That doesn’t mean I don’t regret it.”

Jonas nodded. Something inside him was free, completely free. “As to putting Liz through hell for the past few weeks…” Very calmly, Jonas curled his hand into a fist and planted it solidly on Scott’s jaw. The thin man snapped a chair in half as he crashed into it on his way to the floor.

“Jonas!” Stunned, Liz could do no more than stare. Then, incredibly, she felt the urge to giggle. With one hand over her mouth, she leaned into Jonas and let the laughter come. Moralas remained contentedly at his desk, sipping coffee.

Scott rubbed his jaw gingerly. “We all do what we have to do,” he murmured.

Jonas only turned his back. “Goodbye, Captain.”

Moralas stayed where he was. “Goodbye, Mr. Sharpe.” He rose and, in a rare show of feeling, took Liz’s hand and kissed it. “Vaya con dios.”

He waited until the door had shut behind them before he looked down at Scott again. “Your government will, of course, pay for the chair.”

* * *